Rain or shine, Cincinnati football won’t be out there on Saturday.
The Bearcats canceled their spring showcase on Friday ahead of thunderstorms slated to hit the area most of the day Saturday. Instead, the team’s opting to hold its final practice indoors and close it off from the public.
Logistically, the move makes sense, but one has to think the school could figure out some kind of indoor event – even something as simple as autographs for the kids or something – after Saturday’s practice to make up for the weekend.
Spring football isn’t what it used to be, though. Some schools have transitioned to fan engagement (i.e., fanfest or alumni games), while others have scrapped the concept entirely in favor of an additional practice and less injury risk.
Cincinnati is one of eight teams in the league that hosts a true spring game. Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU and Utah have done away with the traditional spring game in favor of an open-practice model or simply no public exposure whatsoever.
In all fairness, most programs are largely locked in when it comes to highlighting and sharing clips from spring practice, and it’s often the first look fans get when it comes to new players, which is all-the-more important given the portal.
It’s a shame Cincinnati folks won’t be able to catch a glimpse of their favorite team this spring, but it’s hardly the first instance of spring football evaporating from the offseason schedule.
